Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

After a month-long hiatus, I’m happy to report that the Secret Recipe Club is back up and running! I have to say, I missed it! If you have no idea what I’m talking about here’s the short version: the Secret Recipe Club is a wonderful group of bloggers organized by Amanda of Amanda’s Cookin’. Each month we are assigned another blog and get to choose any recipe, prepare it (with any adaptations we like), and blog about it on the big reveal day. In case you haven’t guessed, today is the reveal day. This month I was excited to be assigned to Everyday Mom. Kim, the lovely lady behind the blog, is a mother of three who is always whipping up amazing concoctions in her kitchen. I love that she gets the kids involved, like in this recent post. (On a semi-related note did you see the article in the NY Times last week about the mom who has her teenage sons cook dinner for the family twice a week? Love it.)

As usual, I had a difficult time deciding which recipe to make. I was on the verge of making her Hungarian Coffee Cake, but realized I didn’t have enough butter. The biscotti and zucchini fries were up there as well. But as soon as I mentioned the chocolate peanut butter cookies to my husband it was all over. He’s been hinting that he’d like some peanut butter in his cookies.

I did make a few changes to the original recipe. The biggest difference is that Kim’s recipe uses peanut butter chips, while I use regular chocolate chips plus peanut butter (do they even have peanut butter chips in Israel?). Then, since I put peanut butter directly in the batter, I figured I could cut down on the amount of regular butter. I also used half dark brown sugar instead of all granulated sugar because I love the flavor that brown sugar brings to baked goods. The result? These were awesome cookies. Rich and chocolatey from the double chocolate, with a nice, smooth peanut butter undertone. The texture was fabulous as well: a little cakey and fudgy, which I really enjoyed. Take these out a little before you think they are done as they do firm up quite a bit when they cool.

Kim and I are on the same page when it comes to cookies. She and I both like to bake off just a few and freeze the rest of the cookie dough so we always have fresh-baked cookies at our fingertips. That’s exactly what I did with these beauties, and it makes me smile just to know that I can have one any time I like.

These cookies have it all: a double dose of chocolate, a kick of peanut butter, and an amazing texture. Everyone in the family is sure to love them.

Author: Inspired by Everyday Mom

Recipe Type: Dessert

Yield: Makes 30 cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup cold unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar

¾ cup creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

8-9 ounces dark chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a nonstick baking sheet.

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium-sized bowl.

Put the butter and sugars in a separate large bowl and beat until smooth and light in color (can be done by hand or with a stand mixer).

Add the peanut butter and mix to combine.

Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix to combine. Stir in the vanilla.

Slowly add the flour mixture in thirds until fully incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Using a spoon, scoop cookie dough into small balls and put on the prepared sheet (formed cookie dough can be frozen at this point - line a baking sheet with parchment, line up the cookie dough balls, and freeze until set. Then transfer to freezer bags. To enjoy simply transfer directly to preheated oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes).

Transfer cookies to the oven and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, or until set but still soft.

Your hubby does have great taste. Glad he influenced you to make these tasty gems. The mix of pb and chocolate is definitely one that will always have people asking for more. Great one for the cookie jar!

I so agree!! And freezing cookie dough is the best thing I’ve ever done. I actually got the tip from Trader Joes – I used to buy their frozen cookie dough balls then realized I could just as easily do it myself!

I was just thinking about making chocolate peanut butter cookies the other day, now I’m regretting I didn’t make them! These look awesome! I Such a yummy combo, my last meal would definitely have to have peanut butter and chocolate 🙂

Thanks Anita! I’ve made these a few times now and at their best they are crispy on the outside and a bit gooey in the middle. I’ve also overcooked them a tad so they are crispy all the way through, which are also good!

The cookies look and sound delicious. I too love the flavor brown sugar imparts to baked cookies. Her Hungarian Coffee Cake, biscotti and zucchini fries sound great as well, but I too would have probably gone with the peanut butter cookies. Lovely SRC pick!

Hi! I saw this on food buzz just now and recognized your name from FOOD52!! Many congrats on getting top nine!! I love choc&pnut butter combos – I will definitely make your version soon!! (I’m Chez Suzanne on FOOD52)

Hellooo!!! That is so great 🙂 I love the Food52 connections. I haven’t been on there in ages… Anyway, so glad to connect with you via Foodbuzz. Thanks so much for stopping by – I always loved your recipes! I also love chocolate and peanut butter, it’s hard to go wrong with such a great combo.

Thanks Kim! I wish I could send some to you 😀 Definitely try freezing cookie dough (the important thing is to form it into cookies or balls first) – it will change your life!! You only think I’m being dramatic… 😉

I can get peanut butter chips at certain times of the year here in NJ. I will look for them but your version looks really good. I love a good use of peanut butter and I adore a good cookie. I bake several kinds during the year. These look really tasty. Congrats on the Top 9.

Thanks Risa! It’s funny that they are only available at certain times of the year. The peanut butter in the cookie along with regular chocolate chips really did work well, and turned them into a double chocolate peanut butter cookie!

I tried this recipe for the first time today, and they are absolutely divine! Never made chocolate/peanut butter cookies before but this is going to be my go-to recipe from now on. Absolutely delicious – I can’t stop eating them! Great recipe!!!